Printing mechanism and record material



Nov- 8. '1955 F. R. WERNER ETAL 2,722,387

PRINTING MECHANISM AND RECORD MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT FiledNov. 10, 1951 FIG.I

INVENTORS FRANK R. WERNER 8: WALTER G. STERZER THEIR ATTORNEYS United States Paterif" G PRINTING MECHANISM AND RECORD MATERIAL HANDLING EQUIPMENT Application November 16,1951, Serial No. 255,870

2 Claims. or. 101-288) invention relates to cash 'r'egifsters and accounting machines and is particularly directedto "the printing mechanism and paper-handlingequipment of such machines",

'L 'IThegeneraI object of this invention is the provision of simple and efficient paper-handling equipment for use in" connection with cash' registers and accounting machines?" "nother object is the provision of an improved mechanrsrnfforf printing records on record material.

Still another object is the provision of an improved me'c nism for feeding or advancing the record material intrela'tion "to the printing mechanism.

Mfrurther; object of the present invention is the provision of a compensating device for varying the extent of feedingmovement imparted to the record material receivl fig' r'olli to maintain equal spacing of the records p'r'idt'ed on "said record material. v I 'QWit h these and incidental objects in view, the inventiori" includes certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompanying and form a part of this specification.

In the drawings:

"FigQl is a side elevation, as observed from the left of the machine, showing in particular "the'detail strip the printing mechanisms. J

ig. 2is a detailview in left elevation of theimpressio'n' hammer and its operating mechanism. f

- .3 is a front view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2. is a detail view of the mechanism for feeding :F fi oiadvan'cingthe detail strip.

7 Description p v lhepresent'invention is directed to improvements in combined cash registers and adding machines of the type disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,443,652; issued Iune 22," 1948, to Edward J. Carey et al., and United States Patent No. 2,450,165, issued September 28,1948,

to Harold O; Randall at 211., towhich reference may be had for a complete disclosure of mechanism which is not pertinent'to the'present invention and which for that reason will not be illustrated or describedhereinu j -The machine is provided with a plurality of rows of secured to a lower left frame 34, in turn secure'd'to the machinebase. Secured on the left-hand end of each of the sh'afts 31 is a corresponding crank'35co'nnected by a"lii1k 36 to a corresponding type wheel actuatingsegment 37 rotatably supported on a stud 38 secured in the frame 34. The segments have, on their forwafd"edges,

2,722,887 Patented Nov. 8 1955 ice gear teeth which cooperate with pinions integral with corresponding type wheels 39 rotatably supported on a stud 40 secured in the frame 34. The outer ends of the studs 38 and 40 are supported by a plate 41 mounted on the outer ends of studs 42 secured to the frame 34, said plate 41 being secured on said studs 42 by screws. Each of the segments 37 (Fig. 1) has, on its upper edge, alining notches corresponding to its various positions and arranged to be engaged by an alining bar 43 rotatably supported in the framework 32, after said segments 37 have been positioned and prior to operation of the printing mechanism, to retain said segments and their corresponding type wheels in set position during the impression stroke of the printing mechanism. A row of transaction keys (not shown) and an operation control slide (not shown) each controls the positioning of a corresponding type wheel similar to the type wheels 39, mounted on the stud 40, for printing identifying characters relative to said keys and said slide upon the record material.

The web of a detail strip 45 (Fig. 1) is unwound from a supply roll 46 and is guided by studs 47 and 48 between the type wheels 39 and an impression hammer 44. From the stud 43, the detail strip 45 is guided over the outer surface of a translucent writing table 49, around a stud 50, secured in the frame 34, and then onto the core of a receiving roll 51 mounted on a stud 57 secured in said frame 34. Each of opposed fiat surfaces on the core of the receiving roll 51 has a linear slot cut therein to receive the prongs of a winding key 52, said prongs and said slots providing convenient means for quickly attaching the web of the detail strip to the receiving roll 51, so that it may be wound thereon by turning said key 52 and by automatic means to be described later.

The supply roll 46 (Fig. 1) has a wooden core 53, which freely engages the circumference of a sleeve 54, said sleeve having opposed teeth (not shown), over which the core 53 is forced, so that said sleeve and said supply roll will revolve as a unit. The sleeve 54 is rotatably supported on a stud 55, secured in the frame 34, and is retained against lateral displacement on said stud by a spring clip 56, which engages an annular groove in said stud 55. The sleeve 54 is, provided with an automatic tensioning and take-up device comprising a helical spring (not shown), which frictionally engages the inner circumference of said sleeve, and which also frictionally engages the outer circumference of the stud 55 to retain the web of the detail strip 45, extending between the supply roll 46 and the receiving roll 51, yieldingly taut at all times.

The inwardly-disposed end of the core of the receiving roll 51 has two projections (not shown), which engage diametrically-opposed counterbores 64) (Fig. 4) in the outer face of a ratchet 61, rotatably supported on the stud 57, for operatively connecting said parts.

Means is provided for advancing or rotating the ratchet 61 a variable increment each machine operation to rotate the receiving roll 51 to line-space the detail strip 45 with respect to the type wheels 39 and the printing hammer 44. The detail strip feed ratchet 61 has, on its periphery, a series of comparatively fine ratchet teeth, which are engaged by "several corresponding teeth cut in each of three similar feed pawls 62, freely mounted on studs 63 secured-in a disk or plate 64 rotatably supported on the stud 57. Springs 65, extending between-hook shaped extensions of the feed pawls 62 and corresponding extensions formed on the plate 64, maintain. the teeth insaid pawls .in yielding, engagement withthe-teeth. in the ratchet 61. Likewise, the teeth in the ratchet 61 are engaged by several corresponding teeth ineach of three similar retaining pawls 66 mounted on studs 67 secured in the'left frame 34, the teethin said retaining pawls 66 being maintained in yielding engagement with the ratchet teeth by corresponding springs 68. The feed pawl operating plate 64 (Fig. 4) carries a stud 69, which cooperates with the periphery of a plate cam 70 secured on a shaft 71 journaled in the machine framework and driven by the machine operating mechanism one revolution in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, each machine operation. A spring 72 urges the plate 64 counterclockwise to normally maintain the stud 69 in yielding contact with the cam 70, as shown here.

It will be noted that the cam 70 retains the plate 64 in extreme clockwise or fed condition, against the action of the spring 72, at the end ofmachine operation. Rotation of the cam 70 during machine operation permits the spring 72 to first rock the plate 64 COUUiSt-ClOCkWiSe, or in a take-up direction during which the feed pawls 62 ratchet over the teeth of ratchet 61, which is held against retrograde movement by the retaining pawls 66.

Continued rotation of the cam 70 restores the plate 64 and the feed pawls 62 clockwise against the action of the spring 72 to cause said feed pawls to advance the ratchet 61 and the receiving roll 51 one increment of movement in a clockwise direction to feed or line-space the web of the detail strip 45 in relation to the type wheels and the printing hammer.

A compensating mechanism, which controls the extent of the counter-clockwise or take-up movement of the plate 64 (Figs. l and 4), is provided for maintaining the linespacing of the web of the detail strip uniform, regardless of the diameter of the receiving roll 51.

The plate 64 carries a stud 73, which cooperates with a control surface 74 on a forward extension of a control arm 75 secured to one end of a hub 76 free on a stud 77 secured in the frame 34. Secured on the other end of the hub 76 (Fig. 1) is a sensing lever 78 having a rounded sensing extension 79, which is normally maintained in yielding contact with the periphery of the receiving roll 51 by a spring 80, tensioned between the arm 75 and the central one of the studs 67.

When the diameter of the receiving roll 51 is smallest, as shown in Fig. l, the lever 78 will position the arm 75 and the control surface 74 with relation to the stud 73, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the plate 64 and the feed pawls 62 will receive maximum take-up movement, and, as a result, the cam 70, coacting with the stud 69, will impart full feeding movement to said plate, said feeding pawls 62, and the receiving roll 51, to properly linespace the web of the detail strip 45 in relation to the type wheels 39 and the impression hammer 44.

As the diameter of the receiving roll 51 increases, the lever 78 and the arm 75 will be rocked counter-clockwise against the action of their spring 80, thus causing the control surface 74, in cooperation with the stud 73, to gradually diminish or lessen the pick-up counter-clockwise movement of the plate 64, so that operation of the cam 70 will progressively impart less rotational movement to the receiving roll 51 to maintain proper line-spacing of the detail strip 45 regardless of the diameter of the receiving roll 51. The studs 63 (Fig. 4), which support the feeding pawls 62, are unequally spaced with respect to each other, to insure accurate and full feeding movement of the receiving roll. The retaining pawls 66 are spaced similarly to the feeding pawls 62. A stop stud 81 (Fig. 4), secured in the frame 34, coacts with an upwardlyextending finger of the arm 75 to limit the clockwise movement of said arm and the lever 78, under influence of the spring 80, when the receiving roll 51 is removed from the machine.

Mechanism is provided for operating the hammer 44 (Figs. 2 and 3) to cause said hammer to carry the web of the detail strip 45 and an inking ribbon 113 to contact with the type wheels 39 to imprint the values of the effective amount keys and other data on said detail strip in adding operations and to print the values contained in the totalizers and other data on said detail strip in reading and resetting operations.

The hammer 44 has right and left arms 82 and 83, rotatably supported on the stud 48, said arms being held in properly-spaced relationship to each other by a sleeve or bushing 84, which freely engages the stud 48. A plate 94 (Fig. 1) has properly-spaced holes, which fit over reduced outer ends of the studs 48 and 50 and similar studs secured in the frame 34, said plate being retained in place by screws threaded into said studs, and provides a means for preventing lateral displacement of the hammer 44 on the stud 48, and for supporting other portions of the hammer mechanism, as will be explained presently. The arms 82 and 83 of the hammer 44 freely support a long stud 85, maintained against lateral displacement by means of an enlarged head 86 on its outer end, and by means of a spring clip 87, which engages an annular groove in said stud adjacent the arm 82. The stud freely supports an impression-adjusting cone or frustum 88, urged inwardly or toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 3, by a compressible spring 89, which freely encircles the outer end of the stud 85, said spring being separated from the outer face of the cone 88 by a friction-reducing washer 92. The cone 88 is adjusted along the length of the stud 85 by means of a spring clip 90, in cooperation with a series of spaced annular grooves 91 in said stud 85. The stud 85 is held against rotational movement by a small stud 93 (Fig. 2), secured in the arm 83 of the hammer 44, in cooperation with a notch in the head 86 of said stud. The periphery of the cone 88 coacts with an operating surface on the upper edge of a cam 95 secured to the outer end of a hub 96 free on a stud 97 secured in the frame 34, the outer end of said stud being supported by the plate 94 (Figs. 1 and 3). Secured on the inner end of the hub 96 is an operating arm 98, thus completing an integral assembly which is maintained against lateral displacement by a shoulder formed on the inner portion of the stud 97 and by a spring clip 99, which snaps into an annular groove in the outer portion of said stud 97. The arm 98 (Figs. 2 and 3) carries a stud 102, which freely engages a vertical slot in the forward end of a pitman 103 mounted for horizontal shifting movement by means of a slot in its forward end, which freely engages a stud 104 secured in the frame 34, and by means of a slot in its rearward end, which freely engages the shaft 71. A spring 106, tensioned between the arm 98 and a fixed stud secured in the frame 34, urges said arm clockwise and the pitman 103 forwardly to normally maintain a roller 107, mounted on the rear end of said pitman, in yielding contact with the periphery of a plate cam 108 fast on the shaft 71.

Counter-clockwise initial movement of the shaft 71 and the earn 108 (Figs. 2 and 3) causes the highest portion of said cam, in cooperation with a stud 109 fast in a downward extension of the pitman 103, to restore said pitman to its extreme right-hand or forward position, in case it has not been previously restored to said position by the spring 106. Continued counter-clockwise movement of the earn 108 causes its periphery, in cooperation with the roller 107, to shift the pitman 103 rearwardly to rock the arm 98 and the cam 95 counter-clockwise against the action of the spring 106. Counter-clockwise movement of the cam 95 causes the surface 100, in cooperation with the periphery of the cone 88, to rock the hammer 44 clockwise against the action of a spring 111 to cause said hammer to carry the detail strip 45 and an endless inking ribbon 113 into yielding engagement with the type wheels 39 to imprint the values and other data corresponding to the particular transaction upon said detail strip.

The adjustable cone 88 provides a means for regulating the force of the impression, as said cone may be adjusted lengthwise upon the stud 85, in the manner explained before, to obtain the proper quality of imprint upon the detail strip.

Continued counter-clockwise rotation of the cam 108 permits the spring 106 to return the arm 98 and the cam 95 clockwise, whereupon the spring 111 simultaneously re'stor'eslthe hammer 44 clockwise to normal position, as shown here.

. When the hammer-operating mechanism is in normal position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, an open slot 112 in the/upper portion of the arm 98 engages the inner or right-handend of the stud 85, as shown here, to secure the hammer 44 in its retracted or ineffective position, so that it cannot be accidentally or inadvertently brought into contact with the detail strip 45, thus either smudging said strip or causing an erroneous imprint to be made thereon.

The inking ribbon 113 (Fig. 1) is guided between the web of the detail strip 45 and the type wheels 39 and coacts with the hammer 44, as previously explained, to make imprints upon said detail strip.

The inking ribbon 113 is constructed of an endless belt of inking fabric, supported in an inking ribbon framework (not shown), which, with its components, forms a complete type wheel inking unit which may be readily and easily removed from the machine in its entirety for replacement of the ribbon, or for making minor adjustments or repairs to the ribbon feeding and inking mechanism, and to give better access to the other portions of the printing mechanism, in case it is necessary or desirable to make adjustments or repairs in connection therewith.

This type wheel inking unit is completely disclosed in the co-pending United States application for Letters Patent Serial No. 488,288, filed February 15, 1955, which is a division of the present application.

As is more fully disclosed in the above-cited divisional application, the inking ribbon is advanced a step each machine operation, so as to present different portions thereof to the type wheels 39 and the printing hammer 44 each machine operation, and to insure that said ribbon is properly inked.

Mechanism for accomplishing this includes a disk 135 (Fig. 1), which has diametrically-opposed clutch tenons 134 engageable with diametrically-opposed clutch cuts on an inking and feeding roller (not shown). The disk 135 is integral with a ribbon-feeding ratchet 136 free on a stud 137 secured in the frame 34. The teeth of the ratchet 136 cooperate with a tooth on a pivotally-supported ratchet-retaining pawl 139, and also cooperate with the tooth of a feed pawl 140, the other end of which is pivoted on a lever (not shown), which is rotatably supported on a rod 143 in turn supported by the plates of the framework 32. A spring 144, tensioned between the retaining pawl 139 and the feed pawl 140, retains the teeth of said pawls in yielding engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 136. Also connected to the lever (not shown) is a lever 146 pivotally supported by a stud 147 secured in the frame 34. A spring 148 urges the lever 146 clockwise to normally maintain a roller 149, carried thereby, in yielding engagement with the periphery of a plate cam 150, secured on the shaft 71 and performing one counter-clockwise revolution each machine operation in unison with said shaft. As is more fully disclosed in the above-cited divisional application, rotation of the cam 150, through the train of mechanism described above, advances the inking ribbon 113 a step each machine operation.

The translucent Writing table 49 provides means for making written entries or notations upon the detail strip 45 of a descriptive or other nature, a feature which has proved to be of worthwhile importance and advantage in machines of this type. Located beneath the translucent table 49 is a small electric light 166 supported by a bracket 167 secured to the frame 34, said light being controlled by a switch 168, which is operable from the exterior of the machine.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and de- 6 scribed'is admirably 'adapte d to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to beund'e rstoodthat it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form or embodiment herein disclosed, 'for his susceptible of embodiment in various other forms, all coming within the scope and spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, having means to print records on record material, the combination of a supply roll of record material; a receiving roll for the record material;,means to guide the web of the record material from the supply roll to the printing means and thence onto the receiving roll; a comparatively finetoothed ratchet integral with the receiving roll; a disk rotatably mounted on the same axis as the receiving roll, said disk adapted to rotate independently of said receiving roll; three feeding pawls mounted on the disk in concentric relationship to the ratchet, said pawls being rotatably mounted on centers which are unequally spaced in relation to each other, and each of said pawls having several teeth which coact with a like number of teeth of the ratchet to advance the receiving roll; three retaining pawls spaced similarly to the feeding pawls, each of said pawls having several teeth which coact with a like number of teeth of the ratchet to prevent retrograde movement of the receiving roll; means including a plate cam to operate the disk and the feeding pawls; a spring to urge the disk in a retrograde or take-up direction whereupon initial movement of the cam permits the spring to move said disk in a retrograde or take-up direction, after which continued movement of said cam moves said disk in a feeding direction against the action of said spring, said unequally spaced feeding pawls and retaining pawls operating to insure accurate and full feeding movement of the receiving roll; a member to sense the outside diameter of the receiving roll; a variable stop element integral with the sensing member and positioned thereby according to the diameter of said receiving roll; and a projection on the disk coacting with the variable stop element to control the extent of retrograde or take-up movement of said disk to accurately maintain uniform feeding movement of the web of the record material with relation to the printing means, regardless of the outside diameter of the receiving roll.

2. In a machine of the class described, having means to print entries on record material, the combination of a supply roll of record material; a receiving roll for the record material; means to guide the web of the record material from the supply roll to the printing means and thence onto the receiving roll; a comparatively fine-toothed ratchet integral with the receiving roll; a disk rotatably mounted on the same axis as the receiving roll, said disk adapted to rotate independently of said receiving roll; a spring to urge the disk in a retrograde or take-up direction; means including a plate cam effective to first control the retrograde or take-up movement of the disk under influence of the spring, and then to impart positive feeding movement to the disk against the action of the spring; three feeding pawls mounted on the disk on centers which are concentric to the ratchet but unequally spaced in relation to each other, each of said pawls having several teeth which coact with a like number of teeth of the ratchet during feeding movement of the disk to rotate the receiving roll; three retaining pawls mounted independently of the disk and spaced similarly to the feeding pawls, each of said retaining pawls having several teeth, which coact with a like number of teeth of the ratchet to prevent retrograde movement of the receiving roll, said unequally spaced retaining pawls operating in conjunction with the unequally spaced feeding pawls to obtain accurate and full feeding movement of the receiving roll; a yieldably operated member to sense the periphery of the receiving roll; a variable stop element integral with the sensing member and positioned thereby according to the diameter of said receiving ro1l;-and a projection on the disk coacting with the variable stop element to vary the extent of retrograde or take-up movement of said disk in relation to the diameter of the receiving roll to maintain accurate spacing of the printed entries on the web of the record material, regardless of the outside diameter of said receiving r011.

- 635,979 Read Oct. 31, 1899 8 Kendall July 14, 1914 Raber Feb. 22, 1916 Wheelbarger Oct. 23, 1928 Wheelbarger et al Feb. 23, 1932 Goldberg Feb. 21, 1933 Schofield et a1. Aug. 6, 1935 Lake et a1. Jan. 5, 1937 Inskeep Mar. 8, 1949 Chollar et al June 13, 1950 

